Footgear



INVENTOR. JERRY .1 JONAS ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, 1957 J. J. JONAS FOOTGEAR Filed ma 17, 1956 S TR/DE' 2,810,213 Patented Oct. 22, 1957 FOOTGEAR Jerry J. Jonas, Hollywood, Calif.

- Application May 17, 1956, Serial No. 585,566

1 Claim. (Cl. 36-1) The invention relates to footgear for attachment to the foot of the wearer and particularly for such footgear utilized for recreation or as a toy.

A great market exists among the young for any innovation however bizarre that departs from the conventional mode of getting around. Toys such as roller skates, scooters and other like wheeled toys have always appealed to youngsters. The invention is a new means for achieving movement from place to place. While it is primarily intended as a means of amustment, some practical advantages accrue from the inventions uniqueness. Leg muscles may be strengthened by use of the toy of the invention and the effective stride of the individual is lengthened.

The invention contemplates footgear for attaching to the foot of a wearer and comprises a longitudinally curving sole adapted to rock on the ground. The sole extends longitudinally beyond each end of the foot. A platform is supportedabove the sole, and there are means for securing the platform to the foot or shoe of the wearer.

Preferably, the sole is semi-circular and curves only longitudinally so that the rocking motion is limited to the direction of walking. Since the sole is flat in the transverse direction, the sole in the preferred embodiment has a semi-cylindrical configuration. The platform is supported so that it extends as a chord of the sole in a line below the center of curvature of the sole. The sole may be two spaced, parallel curvilinear bands curving upwardly toward or beyond the end of the platform.

Spaced stops are provided that extend above the platform surface. The stops are spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the shoe of the wearer. The stops may be fixed to the platform and a different footgear manufactured for each size of shoe to be fitted on one or both of the stops may be made adjustable to accommodate various shoe lengths.

Conventional straps may be used to hold the platform to the shoe.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has a semi-circular sole plate, the curvature of the plate may be any regular curve extending substantially equal distances on either side of a perpendicular drawn from the center of the platform.

The sole plate may be covered with friction strips to increase the grip of the footgear. The strips should cover a major portion of the outer periphery of the sole plate. The strips may be of a resilient material to protect the surfaces walked upon.

A further embodiment of the invention includes a platform supported above a semi-circular sole plate and having circular side disks fixed on either side to the plate or platform. The side disks are decorative and themselves may be decorated with colorful devices to enhance the appearance of the footgear.

When fastened to the foot of a wearer, a pair of the described footgear enables the wearer to walk with a rocking motion which is amusing to the wearer. The

Hired State v at m flfiice rocking motion also increases the elfective stride beyond the increment of increase aiforded by the lengthening of the leg the device affords.

These and other advantages of the invention are described more fully in the following detailed specification and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the preferred embodiment of the invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the footgear of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a further embodiment of the invention shown in elevation and partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a wearer having a pair of substantially identical articles of footgear or rolling shoes 11, 12 one attached to each foot. Each rolling shoe or footgear of the invention comprises a sole 13 having a semi-cylindrical periphery. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the sole is an integral part of a block 15 having a platform surface 16 located above the sole. The platform is located slightly below the center of curvature of the sole. The sole bears a friction strip 18 which extends over the major portion of the periphery of the sole.

A pair of spaced stops 20, 21 are located near each end of the platform. The stops may be an integral part of the block forming the footgear of the invention or may be separate blocks fixed to the platform. A front strap 22 fastened to a side of the block at 23 is held snugly across the shoe of the wearer by a buckle 24 fastened to the pposite face of the foot-gear. A rear strap 26 is fastened in a recess 27 near one end of the periphery of the sole. The strap extends in either direction from the point of fastening and one of the ends 27 terminates in a buckle 28 by means of which the opposite end 29 is held snugly across the instep of the shoe. Thus, the stops and the straps hold the footgear securely to the shoe of the wearer.

In the striding position illustrated in Fig. 1 the wearer is'about to lift the footgear or rolling shoe 13 so that he may roll forward on rolling shoe 12 to the dotted position 12A. The step while wearing the footgear is measured as indicated by the dimension line 30 in Fig. 1 while the stride is measured by dimension line 31. The increase of the stride over the step results from the rolling action as the wearer shifts his weight to cause the footgear to rock forward to the point 32 which represents the approximate position the footgear attains before it is lifted for the next step.

The length of the step is, of course, increased by the addition to the wearers leg length, but this amount is small compared to the increase in effective stride caused by the rocking action of the footgear.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a hollow footgear or rolling shoe 40 having a semi-circular sole plate 41. The longitudinal extent of the plate is greater than the like extent of the shoe of the wearer. A friction strip 42 is fastened to the outer periphery of the sole plate and extends for substantially the length of that plate. A platform 44 is supported between the extreme ends of the sole plate. Since the transverse lines of the sole plate are straight, the transverse lines of the flat platform are parallel to them.

The stops for the shoe of the wearer in the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 comprise a toe cup 46 projecting above the platform and opening toward a heel block 48 which is spaced longitudinally along the platform from the cup. The heel block is adjustable along the platform and is fixed in position by means of a vertically extending screw 50 projecting upwardly through an elongated slot 51 in 3 the platform. A wing nut 52 clamps the block to the platform. A retaining strip 53 extends beneath the slot and prevents the screw from falling through into the hollow of the footgear when the wing nut is removed entirely. The retaining strip is fixed at each of its'ends to the bottom surface of the platform.

A pair of large circular side disks 55, 56 are fastened to the side edges of the sole plate and the platform. Preferably, the side disks are the same diameter as the curvature of the sole plate and are mounted concentrically with respect to the side plate. Since the side disks are mounted to the sides of the platfolm and plate, a space 58 exists between the disks suflicient to allow for movement of the wearer of the footgear.

The toe of the shoe is restrained both longitudinally and vertically by toe cup 46 so only a single band 60 passing across the instep ofthe shoe is needed to secure the platform to the shoe of the wearer.

The side disks may be of transluscent plastic to enhance the appearance of the footgear. The disks, themselves may be decorated in many ways to increase the eye appeal and hence the marketability of the devices.

The size of the footgear is dependent upon the strength and skill of the wearer. The only limitation on the size of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is the weight of the footgear. However, a diameter up to four feet can be achieved and utilized effectively to amuse or aid the wearer of the footgear by employing, light weight materials and hollow construction.

The footgear of Figs. 3 and 4 may be lightened by using a long wearing material for the side disks. The bottom portion of each disk can then act as one of a pair of spaced sole plates. Fig. 5 illustrates such a footgear. Side plates 61, 62 have rim surfaces 63, 64, respectively that act as spaced parallel sole plates. The side plates support a platform 65 having a heel stop 66. Means for attaching the footgear similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4 may be used. The intermediate sole plate material and 41 its weight is thus eliminated. The platform may then be supported by the side disks.

Spaced parallel sole plates may be utilized without the side disks. Spaced curvilinear bands attached to each side of the platform with no intermediate web results in a very light footgear.

In any footgear embodying the invention, the curvilinear sole extending outwardly from the ends of the wearers foot as well as downwardly from the bottom of the foot increases the wearers step and stride. A smooth, easily controllable rolling walk can be achieved with little or no practice. The result is much faster travel than is accomplished in normal walking. Thus, I have in efiect developed what may be termed a rolling shoe.

I claim:

Footgear for attachment to the foot of a wearer com prising a substantially semi-cylindrical sole plate adapted to rock on the ground, the ground-contacting surface of the sole extending longitudinally beyond each end of the foot, a platform supported as a chord of the sole plate, a pair of spaced stops projecting from the platform at least one of which is adjustable longitudinally to accommodate various foot sizes, bands adapted to cross the foot of the wearer and be detachably secured to the footgear, and a circular side disk having a diameter substantially the same as that of the sole plate attached to each side of the footgear, said side disks being concentric with the sole plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,516 Glowa Nov. 17, 1925 2,283,595 Banister May 19, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,958 Germany Dec. 6, 1922 465,909 Germany Sept. 27, 1928 

